John Ibrahim shattered after family arrested police raids

Close friends of John Ibrahim have revealed he is ‘a shattered man’ after his son was arrested following raids on his Sydney mansion as they claim he hates his ‘Teflon John’ nickname. 

Three members of the Ibrahim family were arrested as part of an international operation targeting an alleged $810 million drug ring in early August. 

‘He’s upset that his son got caught up,’ said Tony Achmar, who claims to be a close friend and adviser to John.

Close friends of John Ibrahim have revealed he is ‘a shattered man’ after his son was arrested following raids on his Sydney mansion as they claim he hates his ‘Teflon John’ nickname

Speaking to Matt Doran on Channel Seven’s Sunday Night program, Tony ‘The Inspector’ Achmar said Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim was ‘a shattered man’ and ‘very upset’ members of his family, including his son Daniel Ibrahim, are allegedly involved in crime.

Daniel Ibrahim was one of 18 people arrested in early August as part of a massive police operation.

The 26-year-old was arrested in Sydney for allegedly handing over a suitcase holding $2.25 million to buy illegal tobacco as part of a deal allegedly masterminded by his uncle Michael Ibrahim. 

Daniel spent three nights behind bars before his $630,000 bail surety was paid in full on August 11.

'He's upset that his son got caught up,' said Tony Achmar, who claims to be a close friend and adviser to John Ibrahim

‘He’s upset that his son got caught up,’ said Tony Achmar, who claims to be a close friend and adviser to John Ibrahim

John’s son Daniel was one of 18 people arrested in early August as part of a massive police operation (Daniel pictured as he leaves the Sydney Police Centre after posting bail on August 11) 

John’s son Daniel was one of 18 people arrested in early August as part of a massive police operation (Daniel pictured as he leaves the Sydney Police Centre after posting bail on August 11) 

Daniel Ibrahim, also known as Daniel Taylor, the son of Kings Cross nightclub owner John Ibrahim, leaves the Sydney Police Centre after posting bail on August 11

Daniel Ibrahim, also known as Daniel Taylor, the son of Kings Cross nightclub owner John Ibrahim, leaves the Sydney Police Centre after posting bail on August 11

Appearing on Sunday Night, Mr Achmar said John Ibrahim was not involved in his brothers’ alleged crime activity.

Mr Achmar said John condemned their alleged crimes.

‘So John has no clue about his family’s dealings?’ Mr Doran asked, to which Mr Achmar replied, ‘No, because they don’t tell him, he’d go off at them’.

Mr Achmar revealed John hated being dubbed ‘Teflon John’ – a name given to him because despite all the innuendo, he has never been convicted of a serious crime.

‘He doesn’t like that word Teflon, no, because they’re making out he’s some underworld figure who’s put contracts out on people and hurt people,’ he said.

Three members of the Ibrahim family were arrested as part of an international operation targeting an alleged $810 million drug ring in early August (police pictured during raid)

Three members of the Ibrahim family were arrested as part of an international operation targeting an alleged $810 million drug ring in early August (police pictured during raid)

John Ibrahim (left) is seen with brother Michael (second from right), son Daniel (right), and friend Margaret Staltaro 

John Ibrahim (left) is seen with brother Michael (second from right), son Daniel (right), and friend Margaret Staltaro 

When Mr Doran asked if he was an underworld figure, Mr Achmar replied ‘No (but) you come near his family and his bread-and-butter, he’s going to take you on.’

Former New South Wales assistant commissioner Clive Small told the program he believed ‘Teflon John’ was ‘the best description of him’. 

‘He’s very rat-cunning and smart. He took a course somewhat different to the others. As a businessman, a flamboyant character,’ he said. 

Instead of ‘Teflon John’, the businessman preferred to go by the name ‘Mr Legit’.

His claim to be ‘Mr Legit’ was disputed by his close friend Mr Achmar. 

‘I’m not going to say he’s fully legit because I’d be … you know what I mean? He’s not fully legit. No one’s fully legit,’ he said.

John’s integrity was also supported by his good friend and radio personality Kyle Sandilands.

‘I’ve never seen anything dodgy, and believe me I looked, I looked like a hungry cat,’ Sandilands said.

‘The guy’s a hard worker and beautiful person to his friends.’

'I've never seen anything dodgy, and believe me I looked, I looked like a hungry cat,' Kyle Sandilands said

‘I’ve never seen anything dodgy, and believe me I looked, I looked like a hungry cat,’ Kyle Sandilands said

WHO’S BEEN ARRESTED IN SYDNEY ORGANISED CRIME BUST? 

SARAH BUDGE

Budge sports the Instagram nickname Budgie and is the girlfriend of Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim, 49. She’s been charged with possessing a Glock 26 pistol and ammunition when police raided her home. The 27-year-old model from Double Bay is the owner of Potts Point restaurant and music venue Crane Bar. She is listed with Scoop Management. Ms Budge is not suspected of having any involvement in the alleged drug ring and has been released on bail. 

DANIEL IBRAHIM

Daniel is a former soldier with the Australian army who also goes by the last name Taylor and is John Ibrahim’s son. Born in 1990, some have labelled him John’s ‘secret son’ because he was raised by his mother, Melissa Taylor, on the Gold Coast. The 26-year-old moved to Sydney in 2010 and is the owner of the popular Kings Cross bar Beach Haus. He’s been charged with dealing with money intended as an instrument of crime for allegedly handing over $2.25 to buy smuggled tobacco. Daniel Ibrahim strenuously denies the allegations. 

FADI IBRAHIM

A builder by trade, Fadi is one of John Ibrahim’s three brothers and has been described by John as ‘the non-violent one in the family’. He survived an attempt on his life in June 2009 when he was shot five times while sitting in his Lamborghini outside his Castle Cove home in Sydney’s northern suburbs. As a result, his stomach and part of his oesophagus were removed and he suffered nerve damage and several broken bones. Fadi is also the only brother known to dance in public, so much so that John Ibrahim named a podium after him at DCM nightclub. He has been arrested in Dubai.

MICHAEL IBRAHIM

Mike Ibrahim, who was also arrested in Dubai, was hit in the shoulder by one of a number of bullets fired at him on a footpath on Macquarie Street, Sydney, in early 2015. In December 2012 he was acquitted of conspiring to murder the man he believed was responsible for shooting his brother Fadi.

RYAN WATSFORD

The Sydney high-end property real estate agent and Facebook friend of John Ibrahim and Sarah Budge provided a reference to the court for the Nimilote Ngata case in 2011. Ngata is the son of John’s then bodyguard Semi ‘Tongan Sam’ Ngata. He’s been charged with multiple offences including importing a commercial quantity of illegal drugs and dealing with the proceeds of crime. Mr Watsford denies the charges. 

MUSTAPHA DIB

The Sydney underworld figure, known as ‘Fairy Dib’, walked free from jail in February 2016 after his conviction for the murder of a young woman was quashed. He was handed a sentence of at least 30 years in 2012 for the execution-style killing but three judges found there was reasonable doubt he was responsible. In 2016 the former Telopa Street gang member’s home was raided by police searching for firearms.

AHMAD ‘ROCK’ AHMAD

The 39-year-old younger brother of the slain stand-over man Walid ‘Wally’ Ahmad, who was fatally shot on a rooftop car park in Bankstown in April 2016. Ahmad has been charged with conspiring to import a commercial quantity of drugs.

SLEIMAN ‘SIMON’ TAJJOUR

The national president of the Nomads Bikie gang who is a cousin of John Ibrahim. Tajjour was involved in a failed legal bid in the High Court to have the state’s anti-consorting laws struck out. He’s been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibted drug.

FARES DERBAS

Owner of Nutrition Station in Maroubra, which was torched by two masked men in May 2016. Derbas is the cousin of the Ibrahim brothers. He’s been charged with multiple offences including importing tobacco products with intent to defraud revenue and dealing with the proceeds of crime.  Mr Derbas denies the allegations but the magistrate declined to allow bail. 

Sandilands has been a long-time friend of John Ibrahim, with the pair pictured partying together in Ibiza in 2015.

Four of the Ibrahim brothers, including John, have been shot. 

‘It’s not insignificant and you can’t say it happened by chance,’ Mr Small said. 

Ibrahim, whose fame was encapsulated in the 2010 TV series Underbelly: The Golden Mile, wasn’t charged during the raids across Sydney, The Netherlands and Dubai.

Police officers look down from the pool onto the alleged tunnel during raids on John Ibrahim's property 

Police officers look down from the pool onto the alleged tunnel during raids on John Ibrahim’s property 

An alleged secret tunnel was allegedly discovered by police during  raids at the property in August

An alleged secret tunnel was allegedly discovered by police during raids at the property in August

His brothers Michael and Fadi were arrested in Dubai, where they remain behind bars in prison awaiting extradition back to Australia. Michael previously served six years jail time for manslaughter.

His girlfriend Sarah Budge, 27, was also charged in Sydney for possession of a firearm. 

His brother Sam, a former Nomads bikie boss, was previously charged and jailed for threatening to kill a business associate and intimidating police. 

John has remained tight-lipped about his family’s alleged involvement in a drug and tobacco ring. 

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